It took them a few minutes to get it together, but when they did they dominated.

By the time the Rebels closed out their 45-23 win over Gallatin County Friday night, Owen County had totaled 363 yards of total offense. Joey Wood rushed 12 times for 124 yards and two scores, and Adam Hazlett completed three of five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, the Rebels rushed for 266 yards and passed for 97 yards.

“It feels good to be 2-0,” said head coach Adam Fowler, who didn’t know when the Rebels last opened with two straight wins.

Through interviews and recommendations from the community, News-Herald Sports Reporter Brian Blair has completed a list of the top 10 male and female athletes Owen County has produced. The countdown to No. 1 concludes this week.

For two years they didn’t win a match. Saturday afternoon in Warsaw they won a championship. The Owen County Lady Rebels volleyball team claimed the 8th Region All “A” Classic earning a berth in the State Tournament.

“I still can’t believe it,” said head coach T.J. Wesselman. “It shows how much this group of girls has worked.”

The hard work began to pay in the first round of the tournament when Owen County defeated Gallatin County 21-18 and 25-9.

In the mid-1970s, a newly recognized girls' sport was coming of age in Kentucky. So was a new star in Owen County.

Karen Porter began running in 1974 as a seventh-grader. That same year, the KHSAA recognized the mile run as an official sport for girls. It did not take long for Porter to make a name for herself, as she was the Class A State runner-up that season. It was the beginning of an outstanding career in both track and cross county for Porter.

Between 1974 and 1979, Porter was the winner of 16 major invitational races.